Rack controlling means for calculating machines



E. J. ENS

July 7, 1931.

BACK CONTROLLING MEANS FOR CALCULATING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet FiledJune 22, 1928 E. J. ENS

July 7, 1931.

RACK CONTROLLING MEANS FOR CALCULATING MACHINES 3% N% g au u NQ Qhk\ R M1 r July 7, 1931.

RACK CONTROLLING MEANS FOR CALCULATING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledJune 22, 1928 'E. J. ENS

July 7, 1931.

RACK CONTROLLING MEANS FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed June 22. 1928 4Sheets-Sheet 4 m m as \m Patented July 7, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE EMIL JOHN ENS, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO ELLIS ADDINGTYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW J ERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEYRACK CONTROLLING MEANS FOR OALCULATING MACHINES Application filed June22,

The present invention relates to means for automatically checking orcontrolling the adding racks of machines of the Ellis type such as areset forth, for instance, in the patents to Ellis Nos. 1,197,276September 5, 1916 and 1, 203,863 November 7, 1916, for the purpose ofpreventing the racks from jumping rearwardly after the accumulatorwheels have been operated by the racks and have disengaged from them andthe aligning bar has released the racks.

The invention has particular usefulness during a total-taking operationwhere the accumulator wheels are engaged with the racks the beginning ofthe rearward travel of the racks in the machine because as soon as theaccumulation in the accumulator wheels has been transmitted to the racksand they, in turn, have operated the mechanism for printing the total,in the Ellis machine, the bail or leading and restoring frame is then inadvance of the racks and the springs connecting said frame and racks arethen under tension, so that when the accumulator is disengaged from theracks and the aligning bar unlocks, them, the racks in the Ellis machinejump rearwardly somewhat violently until they are arrested by the bailor leading frame. This action results in a considerable jar occurring inthe machine which at times has a tendency to cause the adding hooks ofthe accumulator to release one or more of the transfer cams on theaccumulator wheels which results in carrying one to the next column,thus giving a false result.

The object of the present invention, therefore, is to provideimprovements which, while not interfering with the rearward movement ofthe racks when the machine is put through its cycle of operation for thepurpose of cooperation of the racks with the accumulator and forprinting, will, nevertheless, after this action has taken place,automatically check or stop the racks from further rearward movement sothat they cannot jump rearwardly until arrested by the bail or leadingframe, but will remain in the positions to which they have moved so thatthe bail or leading frame may pick them up and restore 1928. Serial No.287,480.

them to normal position as the cycle of the machine is completed.

While I have specified the improvements as peculiarly adapted for use inconnection with the Ellis machine, it is to be understood that they arealso adapted for use in connection with any calculating machineemploying reciprocatory racks which co-operate with an accumulator andwhich may be subject to the difiiculty which my invention overcomes.

A practical embodiment of the invention is hereinafter described and isshown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1, is a vertical center section of the calculating machine of theEllis Patent No. 1,203,863 November 7, 1916 to which my improvements maybe applied, the racks of said machine being in normal position;

Fig. 2, is a'detail side elevation, partly in section, showing one ofthe racks and associ ated parts such as the leading frame and a part ofthe accumulator, equipped with the present improvements, the parts beingshown in the position they will assume at the end of the rearward oradvance stroke when taking a tool, the particular rack illustrated beingin the 3 position;

Fig. 3, is a view like Fig. 2, showing the position of the parts afterthe aligning bar and accummulator gears have disengaged from the racksand the leading frame or bail has started on its restoring stroke;

Fig. 4,-is a plan view of Fig. 2, certain parts being omitted and othersbroken away and only a few of the racks being shown;

Figs. 5 and 6, are opposite face views of the controlling or checkingplate and the shaft which carries it; and

Figs. 7 and 8, are detail sections thereof.

Referring to Fig. 1, the machine has a rack R50 for each bank or row ofnumeral keys, mounted to slide on two slotted cross bars K3 and R92. Themovement of each rack R50 backward is limited for the purpose ofaddition and subtraction by the stops K secured to the vertical slidingkey stems of the keys, K K K etc., to K. The key, K does not limit thetravel of the rack, but permits it to go its full stroke which islimited by the downward projections at the ends of that part of R whichslides in the groove in the bar K These stops, K are so arranged thatthey engage steps on the upper edge of the rack R and these steps andthe stops, K are arranged Vernier fashionso that from the first step tothe first stop, K on thev key stem K the rack R could move a distance ofone tooth, While stop K on the second key K would permit the rack R tomove a distance of two teeth and the stop K on the key stem of K wouldpermit the rack to move a distance of three teeth, etc., up to K, whichserves the purpose of unlocking the rack R, by releasing therack lock 68and permitting the rack, R to move its full travel or nine'teeth.

The racks R are moved in a rearward direction by means of the springs,R1 which are connected at their rear ends to a bar, R extending betweenthe side members of a bail, which bail is secured to the shaft R androtates with it. Mounted on the shaft R are a series of hell cranks, Rhaving three projecting arms, one projecting forward for the purpose ofoperating the O printing triggers, P, the other arm extendingrearwardly. for the purpose of connecting to the link P which serves torotate the type sector P and if the bell crank, R is rotated about theshaft R the connecting link P will cause the type sector P to rotateabout its center and bring the desired type to the printing line. Thethird arm from thebell crank, It extends in a downward direction andcarries a pin R which engages a vertical slot in the lower, side of therack, R so that when the rack R moves forward and backvward itcommunicates this motion to the bell crank B through the pin R and whenthe bail 45 is moved to rotate toward the rear or right, in Fig. 14, thespring R which connects the bar R and the bell crank R tends to move therack R in a rearward direction until this travel is checkedby one of thbstops K or some other obstruction to its movement.

The segmental rack, R mounted on the lower extending arm of thebell'crank, R is for the purpose of obtaining forced alignment ofthetype on the sector P and this alignment segment R is secured firmly toThe the lowerarm of the bell crank R alignment ofthe type through thesegment R is brought about through the insertion of the blade R mountedon the forward side of the aligning frame R which in turn is mountedupon the shaft R The handle, or the motor drive of the machine isadapted to cause partial rotation or reciprocation of shafts 01, R1 andR2, as explained in Ellis No. 1,203,863.

At the right of Fig. 1 appear the adding and subtracting accumulatorscorresponding to those shown and described in Ellis Patent No. 1,203,863and reference is to be had to that patent for a full disclosure of theconstruction of the accumulators and the manner in which they may beconditioned for addition, subtraction, or the taking of a' total orsub-total, and their, co-operation with the racks R50. The upperaccumulator is shown as set for addition and the lower accumulator asset for subtraction.

In Figs. 2 and 3, the lower accumulator is entirely omitted to simplifythe disclosure and only the adding hook N60 appears to illustrate howthis hook co-operates with the cam N51 of the accumulator wheel N50 whena total is taken. For the sake of clearness, the other parts of theaccumulator are omitted as they appear in Fig. 1 and in Patent No.1,203,863.

The present improvements contemplate the provision of means forpreventing the rack .bars R50 from jumping rearwardly after theaccumulator wheels N50 have disengaged from the racks R50 and thealigning bar R93 has disengaged from the racks or combs R52 so that,once released, and the springs R being under tension, the racks cannotjump rearwardly until arrested by the leading frame 45R.

Each rack bar is provided with ratchet teeth R5OA.

F rictionally carried by the shaft 0.1 is a plate 6&0 which is providedwith resilient pawls 660 adapted for engagement with the ratchet teethR50A under the conditions hereinafter set forth but at other times to befree of said ratchet teeth, the purpose being to have the pawls 660disengaged from the ratchet teeth R50A when'the machine is in normalcondition and when the racks are moving rearwardly for the purpose ofengagement with the accumulator but have the pawls to serve asabutment's or stops for the racks to prevent the false operation whichmight result if the racks were free to jump rearwardly when theaccumulator wheelsare released therefrom and the racks are freed by thealigning bar.

it has been found that the embodiment set forth satisfactorily carriesout the purpose of the improvements.

The plate 640 has openings 1640 through .which the bent, free ends ofthe resilient pawls 660 extend so that said ends are on the upper sideof the plate 640 and extend in position to be adapted to engage theratchet teeth R50A of the different racks, there being a pawl for eachrack and each rack is provided with ratchet teeth R50A for engagement bythe said pawl. The pawls 660 are secured to the plate 640 at their endsnearest the shaft 01 by rivets 0280.

The plate 640 is permitted a limited up and down play by reason of theprovision of a hook 640C which isbent up from the edge of the plate andstraddles the head of a screw 18T entered in the stationary side frameB46. This hook permits the plate 640 to be turned by the shaft 01 intoeither of the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Further turning of theshaft G1 is permitted by reason of the frictional connection of theplate 640 with the shaft 01. The plate 64:0 has curved fingers 640Awhich engage shaft O1 at the ends of the plate. The wiper 100 which iscarried by the shaft 01 and serves a certain purpose disclosed in theEllis patents aforesaid, and a screw O20 carried by the shaft 01, engagethe ends of the plate 640 and prevent said plate from shiftinglengthwise of the shaft 01.

The frictional connections which mount the plate 6&0 on the shaft 01comprise clamp arms 640B and 650 which have divergent ends connected bysprings 80R. As shown, there are but two of these friction clamps but asmany may be used as found to be necessary. One of the members of eachclamp, for instance the member 64013, may be integral with the rear edgeof the plate 640 and the other member may be riveted thereto. Themembers have curved parts conforming to the shaft 01 and theyfrictionally embrace said shaft as shown in Figs. Q'and 3, it beingunderstood that the shaft 01 is rocked by a handle or motor drive to putthe machine through its cycle of operations, the operation of thepresent improvements being as follows: As suming that a total is to betaken, and printed if desired, the handle or the motor is used to turnthe shaft 01 in a counter-clockwise direction as shown by the arrowadjacent the shaft 01 in Fig. 2. In the Ellis machine, the accumulatorwheels N50 engage the racks R50, when a total is to be taken, before thesaid racks move rearwardly, that is, before said racks move in thedirection indicated by the arrow thereabove, Fig. 2. The turning of therespective accumulator wheels for the different racks R50 continuesuntil the respective trip cams N51 abut the ends of the hooks N60 asshown in Fig. 2, whereupon the racks can travel no further. In Fig. 2,the particular rack shown has moved to the number .3 position.

Ihe immediate turning of the shaft ()1 has, however, lowered the plate640 so that all of the pawls 660 are free of the ratchet teeth RSOA. Thedownward swinging of the plate 640 is arrested by the contact of thehook 640C with the screw or stud 18T but the shaft 01 can continue itsturning because the engagement of the plate 64.0 with the shaft 01 is ofthe nature of a frictional slip o1nt.

(In the return stroke of the handle or drive for the shaft 01, saidshaft O1 at the very beginning of the restoring stroke raises the plate640 from the position shown in Fig. 2

to the position shown in Fig. 3. The ends of the pawls 660 are thenpositioned so that the racks R50 cannot jump rearwardly. Therefore, whenthe accumulator wheels N50 disengage from the racks R50, and thealigning bar R93 disengages from the racks or combs R52, even though theracks which previously moved to the right are under the tension of thesprings R80, and the lea ding frame or bail 45B is located ahead of theracks, nevertheless the racks cannot jump tothe right on their releasefromv the accumulator wheels and the aligning bar, which prevents thetroublesome concussion or jar which has heretofore taken place in thistype of machine and which has sometimes resulted in causing the addinghooks U60 to release one or more of the carrying cams N51 and thus carryone to the next column, with a resultant error.

On the return stroke the shaft 01, turning clockwise in the direction ofthe arrow, Fig. 3, eventually brings the bail or leading frame 45R intoengagement with those of the racks which have previously advanced, andthey are picked up by said frame and restored to normal position, duringwhich movement the ratchet teeth R5OA ride idly over the spring pawls660.

What I claim is:

1. In a calculating machine, the combination with accumulator actuators,of automat ically operated pawl and ratchet means for holding theactuators against further advance movement after they have beeninitially set, operating means, and a friction clutch interposed betweensaid operating means and the pawl and ratchet means aforesaid.

2. In a calculating machine, the combination with accumulator actuators,of auto1nat- ,ically operated pawl and ratchet means for holding theactuators against further advance movement each time they are set, andfrictionally operated means for limiting the relative movement of thepawl and ratchet means for engagement and disengagement.

3. In a calculating machine, the combination, with accun'iulatoractuators having ratchet teeth, of an operating shaft, and a pluralityof pawls frictionally secured on said shaft to turntherewith, said pawlsbeing adapted for engagement with, or to be freed from, the ratchetteeth of the respective actuators for the purpose of freeing theactuators for proper advance and to check them against further advanceeach time they are set.

4;. In a calculating machine, the combination with accumulator actuatorshaving ratchet teeth, of an operating shaft for setting and restoringsaid actuators, and a plurality of pawls frictionally secured on saidshaft to turn therewith when said shaft turns, said pawls being adaptedfor engagement with, or to be freed from, the ratchet teeth of therespective actuators for the purpose of freeing the actuators for properadvance and to check them against further advance after they have beeninitially set when the operating shaft is turned, and means forarresting the pawls to limit the distance through which said pawls mayturn with said shaft, whereby the shaft may turn as a unit with saidpawls, or, independently of the pawls when the pawls are arrested.

5. In a calculating machine, the combination with accumulator actuatorshaving ratchet teeth, of an operating shaft for setting and restoringsaid actuators, a plate frictionally secured on said shaft to turn therewith when said shaft turns, spring-actuated pawls carried by said plateand adapted to move with the plate, said pawls being adapted forengagement with, or to be freed from, the ratchet teeth of therespective actuators for the purpose of freeing the actuators for properadvance and to check them against further advance after they have beeninitially set, and means for arresting the plate to limit the turningmovement of the plate in respect to the turning of the shaft whereby theshaft may turn as a unit with said plate, or, independently of the platewhen the plate is arrested.

6. In a calculating machine, the combination with accumulator actuators,of means for holding the actuators against further ad- 'vance movementafter they have been ini- Y vtially set, means for putting the machinethrough its cycle of operations, and an auto- 3 matically yieldingclutch interposed between said operatingmeans and the actuator holdingmeans, said clutch being automatically operated each time the machinegoes through its cycle.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

EMIL JOHN ENS.

